Pocket-clasp



A(No Mode-1.)

H. M. WELLIVER.

POGKET CLASP.l No. 357,351. Patented Feb. 8, 1887,.

ITE

POCKET-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,351, datedl February 8, 1887.

Application led November 9, 1886. Serial No. 218,420.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY MUssINA WEL- LIVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Loek Haven, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pocketlasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket-clasps; and it consists of the peculiar construction andA novel arrangement of the parts of the same, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved clasp of simple and cheap construction which can be very readily and easily iitted in and removed from the pocket of the wearer without injuring or destroying the same, and which shall very securely support or hold various articles which it is desirable to carry around the person-eas, for instance, lead-pencils, pocket-comb, pen, and a large numberof other articles too numerous to mention.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate a pocketclasp embodying my improve ments, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing a pencil fitted between the spring or elastic lingers to illustrate the manner of holding` an article. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line y y of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a similar sectional View on the line w x of the same figure.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the gures, A designates my improved pocket clasp, which comprises the yielding sides or sections B C, which are connected together or made in such a manner that they can be pressed together by the hand of the wearer. rlhese sides or sections B G of my improved clasp lare preferably formed in a single pieceby bending a piece of elastic sheet metal upon itself, and each side or section is provided with two series of fingers, which are inclined in reverse directions and cross one another.

The fingers of the section B of my improved clasp I have lettered b and b', respectively, and the fingers of the section C, I have lettered c and c', to distinguish the fingers of one (No model.)

section from the ingersof the other section `and from each other. These iingers are formed gers outwardly from the body of the section.

Thus, for instance, the finger c of the section I C is bent inwardly toward the section B from its upper end toward the lower end, and the finger c of the said section C is bent first in- Wardly and then abruptly outwardly, as at c2, so that the ends c2 will pass through the slots formed in the' body of the section G by cutting the metal of the fingers c therefrom.

The fingers c and b of the sectionsG B, respectively, are bent inwardly toward each other, and their .lower terminal ends are normally held in contact with cach other, and the fingers b and c of the sections B G, respectively, are bent inwardly slightly and then abruptly outwardly, as at b2 c2, so that the upper terminal ends of the fingers `b c normally enter the slots formed in the body of the sections by cutting the fingers therefrom. It will thus be seen that one series of ngers of each section are bent inwardly toward each other, and are normally in contact with each other at their lower terminal ends above the line of juncture of the sections of the clasp, and the other series of fingers of the sections cross the rst-mentioned series of fingers, and are bent outwardly from each otherat their upper ends. The ngers, being cut from the metal of which the sections are composed, partake of the yielding movement or elasticity thereof, so that when an object is fitted between the yielding fingers the latter move to permit of its passage and bind or impinge upon the same to hold it from displacement between the ngers. The lower terminal ends oi the fingers b and c impinge uponthe object inserted in the clasp to be held thereby, and the abrupt ends c2 of the iingers c and the corresponding ends, b2, of the fingers b also impinge upon the object, so that a large amount of holding-surface is presented by the ngers of the clasp to the object, which more securely holds the same and prevents its accidental displacement and loss.

When a large object is inserted between the ngers of the clasp sections, the terminal ends of the fingers b c thereof are separated from Veach other and pass through the slots formed ICO in the body of the sections by bending the free ends of the fingers therefrom, and when the sections B C of the clasp are pressed together, by hand or from other causes, the bent ends c2 b2 of the iingers c' b are projected through the slots in the body of the sections, as will be very readily understood.

The entire clasp can be readily fitted in the pocket of the vest of the wearer, andthe yielding sections thereof are expanded to prevent the clasp from becoming accidentally detached and lost, and the pencil or other article can be quickly and easily inserted in the clasp between the yielding fingers thereof, and thereby eiectually prevented from becoming lost and dropping out of the pocket when the wearer stoops or falls, as is ofttimes the case.,

I attach especial importanceto the peculiar arrangement of the sections of the clasp having the oppositely-inclined fingers crossing each other at an intermediate point of their length, but not in contact, and one of the se` ries of fingers of each section being normally in contact with each other at their terminal ends, the point of contact being on a line with the point of separation, as therein lies the gist of my invention.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the fingers b c', which serve both to retain the article within the clasp, and also, their ends projecting beyond the sections of the clasp, provide engaging-points on the outside of the clamp.

I do not desire to confine myself to the eX- act details of construction and form and proportion of parts herein shown and described as an embodiment of my invention, as I am aware that changes therein can be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

It will be observed that the fingers comprising each series b c and b c are independently acting, so that one article can be withdrawn without affecting the holding of the other articles in the clasp.

I do not wish to be limited to the use of both series of fingers in one clasp, as in some cases I may employ only one series.

on a line with the point of Contact of the other series of fingers.

2. Apocket-clasp comprising the connected sections having the series of yielding points extending from the outside of the sections and the retaining-fingers on the inside of the sections, as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a clasp comprising the connected sections, each section having two independent series of retaining-fingers, the two series of fingers of one section coacting with the two series of fingers of the adjacent section, as set forth.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a clasp comprising the connected sections having the series of retaining-ngers b c', said fingers having their ends projected through and working in slots or openings of the sections, so as to form engaging-points on the outside of the sections.

5. A pocket-clasp comprising the connected sections, each havingaseries of spring-fingers, the fingers of one section being bent downwardly and inwardly from its section toward the ngers of the adjacent section, so that both will come in Contact, or nearly so, in the space separating the sections, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asv my own I have hereto affixed my siguaturein presence of two witnesses.

HARRY MUSSINA WELLIVER.

Witnesses:

J. T. SHEARER, JAMES C. SMITH. 

